Gardening

Gardening Hints for the Hot Days of August

by Dr. William M. Johnson
Galveston County Extension Agent - Horticulture

August 10, 2005

Gardening can sometimes be a challenge during the month of August when the heat is on. Photo by John Jons

However, fall is right around the corner and here are a few tips to get you through the scorching days of August and into the fall gardening season, also known as the "second spring'' of the south.

VEGETABLES:

• Despite the heat, August is a prime time to plant many types of vegetables for a fall garden. Many gardeners overlook this opportunity to have a fall garden because they wait until the time the temperatures have moderated to plant and many of these types of vegetables will not reach maturity before the onset of cold weather.

• Whenever possible, choose early maturing vegetables for the fall garden. They can be planted after the early summer vegetables have been harvested and still be ready to pick before freezing weather.

The following can be seeded or transplanted in August–the dates indicate the optimal window of time for fall planting: wax bush & snap bush beans (8/15 - 9/15), lima pole & snap pole beans (8/1 - 8/15), collards (8/1 - 9/30), cucumber (8/15 - 9/30), peppers (transplants) (8/1 - 8/30), southern peas (8/1 - 8/31), summer squash (8/1 - 8/30).

• An eggplant is ready to harvest when the fruit is fully colored and has achieved the mature size for the variety. Seed should be white, and the tissue firm. If the seeds are brown and hard, or the skin has become dull rather than shiny, the fruit is past eating quality, so harvest the next fruit sooner.

• Remove old plants in the garden that have stopped producing to eliminate shelters for insects and disease organisms.

• Most bell peppers and standard-size (large) tomatoes planted earlier this year will not set fruit during the heat of summer, even though they may still be flowering. If the plants remain healthy, they may set fruit again once daytime temperatures cool a bit. Sidedress established, healthy plants with fertilizer to encourage new growth.

ANNUALS AND BULBS:

• Order your spring-flowering bulbs now. A good guideline to use is 'biggest is best' in regard to bulb size to purchase. Think about how the colors will go together and time of bloom when combining various spring bulbs. Different varieties, even of the same type of bulb, may bloom early, mid or late season. Read varietal descriptions carefully for details.

• You can plant many of the same colorful annuals now that are usually planted in spring, like zinnia, marigold, celosia, cosmos, etc. for fall blooms. The cooler days of fall will really bring out the colors which will last until first frost which is usually in mid-November.

Plan on regular watering during the stressful days of August. At the same time, remove those bedding plants that have finished blooming and are looking bad. If there is a chance for new growth and blooms, then prune moderately hard, fertilize and water.

WATERING:

• Water newly established shrubs deeply once a week during August during extended periods of dry weather. Check mulch around all plants and replenish if it has broken down. Mulch is one of the best helps for getting plants through summer dry spells.

• Many plants, like camellias and azaleas, are initiating flower buds for next season's bloom at this time and should not be subject to extended periods of low soil moisture. Immature berries of hollies, nandina and pyracantha may drop if the plants are water-stressed.

• When watering lawns during hot weather, do so early in the morning. Otherwise, much of the water will evaporate before the plants get to use it. To further avoid excess evaporation, use a sprinkler that produces large drops of water instead of a fine mist.

• Potted plants outdoors may need daily watering to prevent wilting. Such frequent watering will leach out nutrients, so be sure to regularly fertilize potted plants with a water-soluble fertilizer.

MISCELLANEOUS:

• One common summer complaint is that a fig tree has lots of little fruit that just sit there and won't ripen. Fig trees are very susceptible to summer stress. They have shallow root systems, so heat plus lack of water can suppress fruit ripening. Also, fig roots are also a favorite of nematodes, which further restrict water uptake. For best results, maintain a wide area of mulch from leaves, pine needles or dried grass clippings. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. Providing better root conditions may help improve the ripening of the figs.

• Hold off major pruning of woody plants at this time of year. Hydrangea stems that have finished blooming should be pruned back now. Azaleas and gardenias are setting buds for next’s year bloom, so any pruning now will reduce next year’s flower show. The same is true for all other spring blooming plants which bloom on previous year's growth.

• Finally, do be careful when working, or playing, outdoors. Heat stroke and exhaustion can sneak up on you quickly and are serious medical conditions. Try to schedule work to avoid the most intense heat in the middle of the day. Take frequent breaks, wear loose clothing, and drink lots of water or other non-alcoholic beverages to keep hydrated.

Dr. Johnson is a horticulturist with the Galveston County
Extension Office of Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University. Visit his web site at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.htm

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